To qualify for the scheme, the pet must:
1. Be fitted with a microchip.
2. Be vaccinated against rabies.
3. Be blood tested. The result of the sieroneutralization titre test must show that the vaccine has given the pet animal satisfactory protection against rabies, i.e. that the pet animal has a titre equal to or greater than 0.5. IU/ml.
4. Be issued with an Official Pet Passport (or a Pet Travel Scheme Certificate, which remains valid according to the validity period indicated on the Certificate) issued by the Competent Veterinary Authorities of the Country of origin (for pet animals residing in Malta that travel to another country and require a Pet Travel Scheme Certificate to re-enter Malta, this is issued by the Food and Veterinary Regulation Division). N.B On the Pet Passport, Vaccinations against Rabies, results of Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Tests and treatments for tapeworm and ticks (see point 5) are certified.
5. Be treated with praziquantel for tapeworm and with fiprinol for ticks 24- 48 hours before commencing the journey for Malta.
It is essential that step 1-5 be carried out in order shown.
The following are required for the pet’s entry in Malta:
* An Official Pet Passport (or a Pet Travel Scheme Certificate) showing that the pet animal has been microchipped, vaccinated, and blood tested, and that six calendar months have passed from when the blood sample for the Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test was taken, as well that the pet animal has been treated against tapeworms and ticks (this must be certified on the Pet Passport by the Veterinarian carrying out the treatment, indicating the products used as well as the date and time of the treatment).
* N.B. Pet Animals entering Malta accompanied with a Pet Travel Scheme Certificate must have an Official Certificate signed and stamped by the Veterinarian carrying out the treatment, indicating the products used as well as the date and time of the treatment.
* An Official Declaration that the pet animal has not been outside the qualifying countries.
Owners are strongly recommended to obtain all the necessary certification before travelling, including any certificates required for entry into other countries.
The six-month rule.
Pet animals cannot enter Malta until at least six calendar months after the date that the Veterinarian took a blood sample that give a successful sieroneutralization titre test result.
This is because the incubation period of an animal affected with rabies is variable, but six months (equivalent to the length of the quarantine) is sufficient for an infected animal to display any clinical signs of rabies, which would hence prevent it from being brought into Malta.
The qualifying countries
Pet carnivores resident in Malta can go to one or more of the countries listed below and return to Malta under the Pet Travel Scheme. Pet carnivores originating from one of the countries listed below, and have been resident in any of them for at least six months, can also enter Malta under the Pet Travel Scheme as long as they are accompanied by the appropriate necessary certification.
E.U. Member States:
Austria
Belgium
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Luxemburg
Latvia
Lithuania
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores))
Spain (including the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla)
Sweden
Slovakia
Slovenia
United Kingdom
Other qualifying European countries:
Andorra
Croatia
Faeroe Islands (Denmark)
Gibraltar (United Kingdom)
Greenland (Denmark)
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Monaco
Norway
Russian Federation (part in Europe, part in Asia)
San Marino
Switzerland
Vatican City
Third Countries outside the European Continent:
Antigua & Barbuda
Aruba (Netherlands)
Argentina
Australia
Ascension Island (United Kingdom)
Bahrain
Barbados
Bermuda (United Kingdom)
Canada
Cayman Islands (United Kingdom)
Chile
Falkland Islands (United Kingdom)
Fiji
French Guyana (France)
French Polynesia (France)
Guadeloupe (France)
Hong Kong (China)
Jamaica
Japan
Martinique (France)
Mauritius
Mayotte (France)
Monsterrat (France)
Netherlands Antilles (Netherlands)
New Caledonia France)
New Zealand
Réunion (France)
Russian Federation (part in Europe, part in Asia)
St Helena (United Kingdom)
St Kitts & Nevis
St Pierre & Miquelon (France)
St Vincent and Grenadines
Taiwan
United Arab Emirates
United States of America (including Alaska and Hawaii)
Singapore
Wallis and Futuna (France)
Vanuatu
Only pet animals originating from these countries listed may qualify for the Pet Travel Scheme, and therefore avoid being quarantined if the requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme have been satisfied and if these have not been outside the list of qualifying countries during the last six months prior to entry in Malta.
Preparing for the Pet Travel Scheme.
The pet owner must refer to his/her Veterinarian in order to:
* Obtain a Pet Passport (Veterinarians can obtain these directly from the offices of the Food and Veterinary Regulation Division in Albertown, Marsa)
* Microchip the pet animal,
* Have it vaccinated against rabies,
* Have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, and then the sample is sent to an authorised laboratory where a sieroneutralization titre test is carried out in order to determine the antibody titre.
Owners must pay the Veterinarian for carrying out these professional services. Any Veterinarian with a warrant to exercise the Veterinary Profession can microchip a pet animal, have it vaccinated for Rabies, and take the blood sample for the sieroneutralization titre test.
Once the result of the blood test is received, and the result indicates that the pet animal has an antibody titre equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml, the pet owner must refer to the Competent Veterinary Authorities i.e. the Food and Veterinary Regulation Division, to have the result of the Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test registered on the Pet Passport by an Official Veterinarian, who must also sign and stamp the Pet Passport.
The Pet Passport commences to be valid from six calendar months from when the blood sample for the Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test was taken, and will remain valid till the date when the rabies vaccination booster is due.
In order to maintain the validity of the Pet Passport, it is not necessary to repeat the Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test provided that the vaccination booster for Rabies is given on time.
There is one more very important step to take before the pet animal can enter Malta. 24-48 hours prior before starting the journey for Malta; it must be treated by a Veterinarian with praziquantel for tapeworm and with fiprinol for ticks. This treatment must be certified on the Pet Passport by the Veterinarian carrying out the treatment, indicating the products used as well as the date and time (in 24-hour system) when the treatment was carried out.
· Microchipping.
The microchip serves as a permanent record of identity. It is essential that the microchip meets ISO (international Standards Organisation) Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. Owners should ensure that the microchip meets one of these specifications. If the microchip does not meet the either of these standards, anyone who needs to read it may not be able to do so. In that case the owner would have to provide a corresponding microchip reader (at his/her expense) to ensure that the microchip may be read successfully. Once the microchip has been fitted, the Veterinarian will test it and check the numbers. The microchip number will then be registered directly on the Pet Passport.
· Rabies Vaccination.
The rabies vaccine inoculated must be an inactivated authorised vaccine. Once vaccinated against rabies, the Veterinarian must register the date of vaccination, the vaccine product name, the batch number, as well as the date when the booster vaccine is due directly on the Pet Passport.
Any pet dog/cat/ferret must be at least three months old before it can be vaccinated against rabies.
After the pet animal has been vaccinated and blood tested, it will need regular booster vaccinations at intervals specified by the vaccine manufacturer. Rabies booster vaccination must be given prior to the date that it is due, otherwise it will not continue to meet the conditions of the scheme and would have to be vaccinated and blood tested again and the six months rule have to be met again.
When booster vaccinations for Rabies are given on time, i.e. before the date when the booster vaccination is due, the pet will not need to be blood tested again and the six-month rule will not be necessary.
· The Sieroneutralization Titre Test (Blood Test).
After the pet animal has been vaccinated, it will need to be blood tested to ensure that the vaccination has given adequate protection against Rabies. In order to give adequate time for the presence of circulating antibodies against Rabies, the blood sample can be taken at least 30 days after the pet animal was vaccinated. A Veterinarian will take a blood sample and will have it send to a recognised laboratory where the sieroneutralization titre test will be carried out. The Veterinarian will than give a signed record of the date the blood sample was taken.
I n order for the sieroneutralization titre test to be valid for the Pet Travel scheme, the Rabies neutralising antibody titre must result equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml. If the test does not give this result, the pet animal has failed the blood test and hence does not qualify for the Pet Travel Scheme. Animals that fail the blood test must be re-vaccinated and then blood tested again.
· Treatment against ticks and tapeworm.
The treatment must be carried out between 24 and 48 hours before checking in at the airport/harbour with the approved transport company for the journey to Malta, and has to be done every time the pet animal is entering Malta. Pet animals travelling overland who will then be brought to Malta by sea aboard a ferry or ship, must be treated 24-48 hours before starting their journey aboard the vessel that will then enter Malta.
If the pet animal is being taken out of Malta on a one-day trip, the treatment can be done in Malta during the 24 to 48-hour period before the time of journey back to Malta.
The pet animal must be treated with praziquantel for tapeworm and with fiprinol for ticks. If the animal is not treated for tapeworm and ticks, or else if it is treated with medications that do not contain praziquantel and/or fiprinol, the pet animal will have to be taken to the Small Animal Quarantine facilities in Luqa and will be released 48 hours after it has been treated.
When the pet animal has been treated, it is imperative that the Veterinarian certifies this treatment directly on the Pet Passport by the Veterinarian carrying out the treatment, indicating the products used as well as the date and the time (in 24 hour system) when the treatment was carried out. N.B. In the case of pet animals travelling with a Pet Travel Scheme Certificate, the Veterinarian carrying out the treatment must sign and stamp an Official Certificate, indicating the products used as well as the date and the time (in 24 hour system) when the treatment was carried out. It is important to keep this certificate safe so that this will be later presented to the Official Veterinarian upon the animal’s arrival in Malta.
If the treatment with praziquantel for tapeworm and with fiprinol for ticks is not carried out, or if this treatment has not been certified, the pet animal will have to be taken to the Small Animal Quarantine facilities in Luqa, where it will have to be treated for ticks and tapeworm and will be released 48 hours after the treatment has been carried out. If the date and time of the treatment on the Pet Passport (or on the Official Certificate issued by the Veterinarian in the case of pet animals travelling with a Pet Travel Scheme Certificate) do not comply with the 24 to 48-hour period requisite, the pet animal will have to be taken to the Small Animal Quarantine facilities in Luqa, where it will have to be treated once again for ticks and tapeworm and will then be released 48 hours after.
Documentation.
At present, the following documents must be presented in order to have the pet animal released when it enters Malta.
a) THE PET PASSPORT.
This is issued by the Competent Veterinary Authorities of Malta or of a qualifying country, and indicates that a microchip number identifies the pet animal, that the pet animal has a current Rabies vaccination, and that it has been blood tested and resulted to have an adequate antibody titre against Rabies. In order for the Pet Passport to be considered as valid, six calendar months must have elapsed from the date when the blood sample which give a successful result for the Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test was taken, and will continue to remain valid till the date when the Rabies booster vaccination is required. Pet animals entering Malta without having met the six months requisite will have to be kept in quarantine for a determined period of time, while those that enter Malta without having been given any necessary rabies vaccination boosters on time will also have to be kept in quarantine.
N.B. For certificates issued in rabies free islands, some island authorities may issue certificates, which are valid for only one trip to Malta. The Competent Veterinary Authorities in these islands will be able to give owners further advice.
For pet animals residing in Malta resident pets, the Pet Passports are issued by the Food and Veterinary Regulation Division in Albertown, Marsa, (contact person: Ms. Lucienne Cassar: Telephone numbers: 00356-21225638 ext.371, 00356-21225930 ext.371, 00356-21237638 ext.371, 00356-21242694 ext.371, Fax: 00356-21238105, e-mail address). Pet Passports are distributed to Veterinarians exercising their profession in Malta, however following a Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test result with a titre equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml, this must be certified on the Pet Passport by the Director General of the mentioned Division or by any other authorised Official Veterinarian, who must also sign and stamp this document. For pet animals residing in other any qualifying country, the Pet Passport is issued by the Veterinary Services in that country.
The treatment for tapeworm and ticks, to be carried out 24-48 hours before checking in at the airport/harbour with the approved transport company for the journey to Malta. Once the pet animal has been treated with praziquantel for tapeworm and with fiprinol for ticks, the Veterinarian who has carried out the treatment will certify the treatment carried out directly on the Pet Passport, indicating the products used as well as the date and the time (in 24 hour system) when the treatment was carried out, after which he/she must sign and stamp the Pet Passport (in the case of pet animals travelling to Malta with a Pet Travel Scheme certificate, the certificate issued by the Veterinarian must indicate the date and time (in 24 hour system) when the treatment was carried out, and must include the products used, the pet’s microchip number, and other required details such as the pet’s name, age, sex, species, breed, type of coat, as well as the name of the owner. After the certificate has been filled in a completed manner, the Veterinarian must sign and stamp it.)
The treatment with praziquantel for tapeworm and with fiprinol for ticks has to be done every time the pet animal is entering Malta.
b) THE DECLERATION OF RESIDENCE.
The owner must fill in a form to declare that his/her pet animal has not been outside the Pet Travel Scheme qualifying countries during the last six months prior to the pet animal’s entry in Malta. Where flying to Malta from a Rabies-free island, this declaration may still be signed as long as the pet animals has not left the confines of the airport during transit or stopover in a qualifying country. This form can be filled in when the pet animal is presented for checking.
Pet animals entering Malta with the necessary requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme, but which have been outside the qualifying countries during the last six months prior to the pet animal’s entry in Malta will have to be quarantined for six months.
The Pet Travel Scheme and Malta’s entry in the European Union.
Following Malta’s accession in the European Union on the 1st May 2004, the conditions of the Pet Travel Scheme have been maintained, and there have been no changes in the requisites as indicated in the Legal Notice 169/2001. The Pet Passport is an Official Document that is in use in all the Member States of the European Union as from the 1st October 2004. It is required for the movement of pet animals from one Member State to another, as well as from Third Countries (i.e. Non Member States) to Member States, as established in the Commission Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals.
Besides Malta, other Member States of the European Union that apply the Pet Travel Scheme are the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Sweden. The remaining Member States require that the pet animals are microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, (these are to be certified on the Pet Passport) and do not require the rabies sieroneutralization titre test nor the treatment for tapeworm and ticks. Pet animals which leave Malta and travel to other Member States after which they return to Malta and pet animals originating from Member States, that enter Malta with a Pet Passport but do not fully comply with the requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme as specified in the Legal Notice 169/2001 will have to be kept in quarantine for a determined period of time.
Upon the pet animal’s arrival in Malta, the Pet Passport is subject to a Veterinary Check by the competent Official Veterinarian or an authorised Veterinary Support Officer, who will verify that the requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme have been met with, i.e.:
* the pet animal has been microchipped;
* the pet animal has been vaccinated against rabies and that all the necessary booster vaccinations have been given regularly (pet animals which have been blood tested to evaluate the rabies antibody titre but are not given necessary rabies booster vaccination will not continue to meet the conditions of the scheme and would have to be blood tested again and the six months rule have to be met again);
* a rabies sieroneutralization titre test has been carried out and the titre is equal to or greater than 0.5IU/ml
* six calendar months have passed since the blood sample for the titre test was taken;
* the pet animal has been treated for tapeworm with praziquantel and for ticks with fiprinol 24-48 hours before commencing the journey to Malta, and that the Veterinarian who carried out the treatment has indicated the date and time when this treatment was carried out.
Import Licence
Pet animals entering Malta require an Import Licence issued by the Food and Veterinary Regulation Division in Albertown, Marsa, (contact person: Ms. Lucienne Cassar: Telephone numbers: 00356-21225638 ext.371, 00356- 21225930 ext.371, 00356-21237638 ext.371, 00356-21242694 ext.371, Fax: 00356-21238105, e-mail address) signed by the Director General of the mentioned Division or by any other authorised Official Veterinarian.
Release of Pet Animals entering Malta with the requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme
The entry of pet animals in Malta with the necessary requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme does not signify that the pet animal is immediately released on arrival in Malta; pet animals will be released from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 14:00 i.e. the pet animals and their documents are presented for Veterinary checks during the mentioned times. Pet animals presented for Veterinary checks outside the mentioned hours i.e. on weekdays after 14:00, on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, will be taken to the Small Animal Quarantine Centre in Luqa and then released on the morning of the next working day.
Notification of the Pet Animal’s Arrival in Malta.
Owners of pet animals entering Malta are obliged to contact the Food and Veterinary Regulation in Albertown to notify the arrival of their pet animals, at least three working days before the animal’s arrival in Malta. Owners of pet animals which do not satisfy all the necessary requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme, and hence must be kept for a determined period at the Small Animal Quarantine in Luqa, or owners of pet animals entering Malta with the requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme outside the mentioned hours and hence are taken to the Small Animal Quarantine Centre in Luqa and then released on the morning of the next working day, must also notify the Small Animal Quarantine Centre in Luqa (Tel: 00356-21244236) Pet animals entering Malta without any form of notification to the Food and Veterinary Regulation Division with the requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme during the working hours of the mentioned Division will have to attend the arrival of the competent Official Veterinarian or authorised Veterinary Support Officer at the airport/harbour until he/she can be available.
Pet Animals entering Malta from Qualifying Countries without having satisfied the necessary requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme.
Pet animals entering Malta from qualifying countries without having carried out as appropriate the treatment with praziquantel for tapeworm and with fiprinol for ticks 24-48 hours before checking in at the airport/harbour with the approved transport company for the journey to Malta (for example the treatment was not carried out at all, or else the treatment was carried out outside the 24-48 hours period, or else medicinals which do not contain the prescribed active ingredients were utilised for the treatment), will be kept in quarantine until 48 hours after the treatment has been carried out at the Small Animal Quarantine Facilities by an Official Veterinarian.
Pet animals entering Malta from qualifying countries which have been microchipped, vaccinated against Rabies but have not had a blood sample taken for the Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test will be kept in quarantine for six calendar months.
Pet animals entering Malta from qualifying countries which have been microchipped, vaccinated against Rabies and a blood sample has been taken for the Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test, (the result of which must show that the pet animal has an antibody titre equal to or greater than 0.5IU/ml), but have not yet satisfied the six-month requisite will be kept in quarantine until six calendar months have passed from the date when the blood sample for the mentioned blood test has been taken.
Minimum Age for Pet Animals to enter Malta from Qualifying Countries in order to fully comply with the necessary requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme, and hence avoid quarantine.
Since the minimum age for a puppy or kitten to be vaccinated against rabies is three months of age, and considering that thirty days must pass before a blood sample for the Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test can be taken in order to determine the Rabies Antibody Titre, after which if the Rabies Antibody Titre results equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml six calendar months must pass from the date of when the blood sample for the Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test has been taken in order for the pet animal to qualify for the Pet Travel Scheme, the minimum age for a dog or cat to comply with the established requirements is ten months of age. Therefore puppies and kittens less than ten months of age cannot mathematically qualify for the Pet Travel Scheme, and hence must be kept in quarantine for determined period of time following their arrival in Malta.
The importation into Malta of puppies and kittens less then three months of age is not allowed, even if their mother entering Malta fully complies with the requisites of the Pet Travel Scheme. Puppies and kittens lest then three months of age imported into Malta will have to be sent back to the country of origin.
Pet Animals entering Malta from Non-Qualifying Countries.
Pet animals entering Malta from non-qualifying countries or pet animals which during the last six months prior to their entry in Malta have been outside the list of qualifying countries will be kept in quarantine for six calendar months, irrespective of any microchipping, rabies vaccinations, sieroneutralization titre tests and treatments for ticks and tapeworm that have been carried out.
Dangerous Dogs.
In Malta, it is illegal to possess certain types of dogs, such as the Pitbull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dog Argentino and the Fila Braziliero. The introduction of the Pet Travel Scheme has not affected this ban. If any of these dogs is introduced into Malta, the person responsible is prosecuted and the dog is seized and put down.
Pet Animals leaving Malta.
Before leaving Malta with their pet animals, owners must ensure that the necessary preparations for the Pet Travel Scheme have been done if they intend to re-introduce the pet animal into Malta. Owners must also refer to the embassies or consulates of the countries which they intend to visit in order to inform themselves about the necessary requisites required by the countries to be visited. Some countries require a Veterinary Health Certificate so that the pet animals may enter these countries.
Owners must not introduce their pet animals in non-qualifying countries; these will have to be quarantined for six calendar months.
Owners taking their pet animals out of Malta must be aware that these may be exposed to certain diseases which are not present in Malta, e.g. diseases transmitted by the bite of ticks and certain parasites such as the heartworms (Filaria). Owners are recommended to consult their Veterinarian before taking their pet abroad, notably to give advice on preventive treatments, on any other necessary precautions, as well as signs of ill health to look out for.
Owners must consider the welfare of their pet animal, and whether the pet animal is fit to undergo travelling. For example, travelling is not recommended for pregnant bitches and cats in the last weeks of gestation. Travelling is also not recommended for cardiopathic pet animals or for pet animals that suffer from epilepsy. Owners must also keep in mind whether the animal will benefit from being taken abroad.
Importation of Ferrets into Malta.
Ferrets can enter Malta from a qualifying country provided they are microchipped, vaccinated against Rabies and treated against ticks and tapeworms. Although for ferrets a Rabies Sieroneutralization Titre Test is not required, ferrets from listed qualifying countries must wait at least six months following rabies vaccination before they are able to enter Malta in order to avoid quarantine. Ferrets originating from qualifying countries that have not been vaccinated against Rabies will be kept in quarantine for six months, while those that have been vaccinated against Rabies but are imported into Malta before six calendar months have passed from the date when the vaccination against Rabies was somministrated will be kept in quarantine until six calendar months have passed from the date when the vaccination against Rabies was given.
Ferrets imported from any country outside the list of qualifying countries will be kept in quarantine for six calendar months, irrespective of any rabies vaccinations given prior to their entry into Malta.
Further information.
Should you requires any additional information, you may contact the Food and Veterinary Regulation Division in Albertown, Marsa, mainly:
Ms. Lucienne Cassar
Telephone numbers:
00356-21650393
00356-21653013
00356-25905000
Fax: 00356-21650373
Dr. Geoffrey Schembri Adami Med. Vet.
Telephone numbers:
00356-21225638 ext.335,
00356-21225930 ext.335,
00356-21237638 ext.335,
00356-21242694 ext.335.